The PM who hurt many in the Commonwealth

The late Margaret Thatcher meant different things to different people. In Africa, many will remember her for supporting apartheid in South Africa, writes Managing Editor WAHEED ODUSILE, who had an encounter with her

Late her or love her, Lady Margaret Thatcher, the former British Prime Minister who died on Monday at 87, was a person and politician you just couldn’t ignore.

Give it to the Iron Lady, she knew what she wanted and stood firmly on her belief-even when such were unpopular.

Such was the case with her support for the then apartheid regime in South Africa, a position that naturally made her unpopular in Africa, especially Nigeria where there were so many powerful anti-apartheid movements and sympathisers, including the press. But Thatcher had no apologies for that.

So when it was announced that she was to visit Nigeria during the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida regime, the Press was waiting to question her support for the apartheid regime in South Africa. As the Airport/Aviation Correspondent then for the defunct Concord Group of Newspapers, I was more than determined to ask her that question.

Her visit, we were told, had been on the cards for long, but was fiercely opposed by the then Foreign Affairs Minister, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, who, grapevine sources then said, insisted that Lady Thatcher would never visit Nigeria as long as he remained minister.

Can’t remember the exact year now but in December that year, Akinyemi was removed and Thatcher visited the following month.

First she made a whistle stop visit to Kano and refused to speak with the local media. The second time she came to the country she came to Lagos, then Nigeria’s seat of government, and was well-received by the government but she again ignored the local press.

When she was to go back, I had my plans kept to my chest. As is customary, the host Head of State and Government saw her to the airport on her way home. Security at the presidential wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja was, as usual, tight and the team of airport correspondents joined by the State House Press Corps was kept in one corner by security agents, far away from the red carpet for the British Prime Minister.

But as one of the most senior correspondents at the airport then, I often had my way with the security agents as they were quite friendly with a few of us, especially some of us considered to be Babangida’s friends among the correspondents.

So it was so easy for me to leave where the journalists were kept and mix freely with the entourage as they alighted from their limousines and headed for the British Airways DC 10 aircraft that was to fly Thatcher home.

As the visitor and her host moved towards the aircraft I stayed just about arm’s length from then. When they got to the point where Gen. Babangida stopped to wave her goodbye, everybody stopped and Thatcher proceeded to the gangway to climb the aircraft.

At that point, I told myself, “boy, this is your chance, you better take it”. To the surprise of everybody, I just stepped out from the president’s line and was one on one with Lady Thatcher. “Madam, why are you running away from the Nigerian press and why are you supporting the South African government?” I shouted my questions at her.

Unruffled, the Iron Lady just looked at me, ignored my presence and continued her walk towards the aircraft. I stood there watching as she climbed the gangway, turned at the door and waved to her host. Shortly afters the aircraft door was shut.

“I hope I’ve not got myself in trouble, my mind was saying, but at the same time I told myself, “boy you have tried, at least Thatcher would not go away with the impression that the Nigerian press is docile”.

As the aircraft was pulling back to taxi to the runway, everybody retreated, waiting for the plane to take off. Then one of the BG boys came closer and my heart skipped, “wahala don come, I thought, but the burly man gave me a thumps up instead and said: “Boy, that was a good one; you are doing your job, but don’t try it again because next time I will do my job”.

The message sank, and I said “thank you”. But I was happy Thatcher got a dose of the stuff the Nigerian press is made of.

I don’t know what to wish her soul as she is dead now, but I can only say good night, Madam. You did your best for your people, but in the process you hurt many others in the British Commonwealth.

Good Job Nigerian Press, you deserved World Journal Deserve Respect Award. And I am sure Thatcher will never forget Nigeria and Nigerian. Let her go nobody need her here in Nigeria even thereafter. You made me to remember book of Salman Rushedee (Sananic Verses) where he called Margret Thatcher a Bitch.

Matthew

WAHEED ODUSILE you tried.

bELLO suraj

Don’t mind the RACIST madam. At least she is dead and Mandela is still alive. And apartheid is gone.

Aloy

She not only was bad for Commonwealth. She baned Non-white Commonwealth citizen from entering the UK and White Commonwealth countries without prior visa in their home countries. Thanks to OBJ for the reprisal approach of Indiginization Degree that saw BP changed to AP, Barclays and Standard banks become Union and First banks owned by Nigerians.